Within the Golden Gate.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 285, 6 December 1904, Page 3

Within the Golden Gate.

EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG. NEW ZIEALANDEH. LIFE IN SAN FRANCISCO. A young man who went from New Plymouth to try his fortune in the land of the Stars and Stripes writes to a friend giving some account of his experiences which may interest, readers. After giving some particulars of his first engagement as cashier during the temporary absence, through illness of the original holder of the position, the writer proceeds : "So, on the cashier's return, I left my first San Francisco job about the end of April, with excellent references and testimonials, having also gained a lot of useful experience of American business methods and acquaintance with a number of men. For three weeks I was kopl busy interviewing, and writing letters ol application. At last I se;ured a position in the audit department of a big banking, railroad and express corporation, whose head ollice (which employs about 500 clerks) is here, ffhe corporation has branches all liver the States. The billet is far and away the best I have ever held, both in point of work (figuring and accountancy) and salary. The company extends numerous concessions to its employees, such as half rales on all its railways, the use for Is a month of a line library (larger, with a bettor selection of books, than that at New Plymouth), situated in a part of the ollice buildings; half subscription to the Young Men's Christian Association is also paid on behalf of clerks who wish to join that institution ; and we have a half-holiday on Saturdays, from noon. Our hours are regular, and overtime, limited to three hours a night, is paid for at extra rates. i All the usual ollice hours throughout the year are granted, with ail annual vacation of a week (more if required) on full pay. I believe I am giving satisfaction all right ; I have had one good promotion, and am still going up. At present there is a likelihood of the head office being shifted to New York at the end of the year, and lam hoping greatly that I shall be transferred. That will mean another 4000 miles toward my circuit of the globe. "... I have joined a whist club-Hi very quiet affair, and conducted on strictly business lines. The male members are, with one exception, fellow employees—and Englishmen. The club consists of six ladies and six gentlemen, the formei being wives of members or lady bachelors. We meet fortnightly, from H p.m. to 10.45 ; late comers are fined, and a fortnightly contribution of Is pays for a prize to bo won at the following meeting. Supper is restricted to coffee and crackers, or something equally plain, and a breach of this rule entails a heavy line. Such rules may appear stiff, but they save a lot of irregularity and .trouble, and our meetings are just fine. . . .

"As I have been working pretty hard I have not had time to get into many adventuics, I have had two clinlbs up Mount Taumlpais (a mountain 2500 feet high just across the Bay, and reached by ferry and an electric tram ride of eight miles to the foot, and thence to the mountain another eight miles over " che crookedst railway on earth, Sir!"). I generally walk, for the sake of the exercise. It is an easy climb of three hours. I celebrated " The Fourth" (of July)—when we bad holiday from noon on Saturday till I Tuesday taking a trip 120 miles up the famous Sacramento I Valley, California's great fruit district. My principal object was to [ view a vineyard proposition which was to be worked on the co-opera-tive and seemed to me to mean dollars. However, I am 1 holding back for a bit. From a pleasure point of view the trip was very enjoyable, comprising an all-night journey on one oi the river boats, SO miles by train, then driving about—at other, people's oxpense—viewing places, and orchards particularly, where something more than viewing was done, arod then returning to the city all the way by train." (To be continued.)